Screening Overview

Transcript

Lt Col Reynolds
When you are being evaluated for hypertension, your healthcare provider may order additional tests for a number of different reasons. Because every patient is different, providers determine which tests to order based on each patient’s individual case. The approach that your provider uses to evaluate your high blood pressure will be based on a combination of your specific history and other signs and symptoms you may have. Your evaluation will likely begin with contributing factors of primary hypertension, which include:

Obesity, or being overweight

Excess alcohol intake

Excess sodium, or salt, intake

Low potassium intake, and

Lack of physical activity

Maj West
After your provider has evaluated these contributing factors, there are several general reasons why he may order additional tests. These reasons include:

Screening for causes of secondary hypertension

Looking for damage to organs and other complications resulting from untreated hypertension

Screening for other conditions associated with hypertension, such as diabetes, heart disease, or chronic kidney disease, and

Determining if there are contraindications, or reasons not to prescribe, high blood pressure medications